Strand slackening device



May 10, 1932- H. P. ARKEMA ET AL 1,857,801

STRAND SLAGKENING DEVICE Filed April l2. 1928 Patented May l0, 1932 UNITED STATES APATENT oFFlcE HAROLD PETER ABKEMA, OF CHICAGO, AND SAMUEL MCMULLAN, OF DOWNEBS GROVE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK STRAND SLACKENING DEVICE Application illed April 12,

tice to stop the entire machine or permit the wire under tension to slip on the surface of the rotating capstan. The stopping and starting of the entire machine required considerable time and caused awaste of power,

and the slipping of the taut wire on the ca p'- stan surface tended to wear grooves therein,

abrade the wire, and the heat resulting from the friction sometimes became of sufficient intensity tobe harmful to the material.

The principal object of the invention is the rovision of a device for permitting a portion of a strand working apparatus to continue to rotate while the receiving reel is belng changed.

In accordance with the general features of the invention there is provided in one embodiment thereof a wire slackening device for a wire drawing machine, comprising a plurality of rollers mounted on a spring controlled seat and adapted to be forced against the travelling wire by pneumatic means and subsequently withdrawn to introduce slack therein.

Other objects and features of the inventionu will be more apparent from the following description when considered in connection 4with the accompanying drawin s illustrating a wire slackening device embodying the features of the invention, in which o Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the wire slackening device taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. y

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals have been emplo ed to designate similar parts throughout t e disclosure, it will be observed that a housing 10 enclos- 192s. serial nu. 289,346.

ing a wire drawing apparatus is mounted upon a base 11. The housin 10 is provided with a hinged top cover ,12%1aving an inlet aperture 13 and egress opening 14 for the wire l5 being drawn.

The wire drawing apparatus comprises a die tshelf or box 20 secured to the housing' 10 a conical shaped stepped capstan 21 and ai plurality of idler sheaves 22 of gradually decreasing diameters corresponding to the steps in the capstan. The capstan 2l is fastened to a rotatable shaft 23 driven by a suitable source of power Snot shown) and the sheaves 22 are rotatab y mounted on a shaft 24 which along with the capstan shaft 23 is suitably journaled within the housing The wire l5 to be drawn is passed through the aperture 13 in the housing 10 and a series of reducing dies 28 are strung on the wire; after which the wire is passed around the sheave 22 of the first' of the reducing dies 28 is placed in the die box 20, after which the wire is passed around a step 25 of the smallest diameter on the capstan 21, and then passed t6 around a sheave 22 of the smallest diameter. The second of the series of reducing dies 28 is then placed in proper position in the die box and the wire passed around the second smallest step in the capstan. This method of threading the wire and placing the dies is continued until the final reducing die is p0- sitioned in the die box and the finished wire passed through the egress openin 14' at the right end of the housing 10 where te finished wire is wound on spools in a positively driven take-up mechanism of any suitable type (not y shown Mounted medially of the capstan 21 and sheaves 22 and supported on the floor of the housing 10 is a plate 29 having an upright vertical portion .30 secured to the side wall of the housing 10. This plate 29 serves as a support for and is a part of the slackening device now to be described. A member 32 capable of reciprocation is provided with a plurality of steps 33 analogous to the steps in the capstan and the varying diameters of the sheaves 22 as -clearly illustrated in Figs. land 3 of the drawings. Each of these steps -right of 33 is uipped with a roller 34 suitably journaledetlierein for enfgaging the traveling wire in the producing o slack therein as will be -readily understood as the descriptlon progresses. Under each roller 34 the step is undercut at 35 to permit the wire drawing solution to wash thereunder and thereby prevent the metallic dust from the wire 15 from settlin and interfering with the free rotation of t e rollers. At the' extreme left end of the cast member 32 a pair of circular openings 36--36 are provided for seating helically wound compression springs 37-37. Inserted centrally through the helices of these springs are rods 38-38 protrudingin through a hole 39 in the member 32 and threaded into the fixed plate 29'and having flat circular heads 40 integral therewith for bearing a ainst the tops of the compression springs 3g A guiding aperture 42 in the member 32 intermediate the openings 36-36 makes a sliding engagement with a guide pin 43 secured in the plate 29. Immediately to the the aperture 42 and separated therefrom is a bore 48 into which fits a stationaxX piston 49 secured to the base plate 29. countersunk central depression 50 in the top of the piston 49 connects with tubular openings 51 and 52 in the piston and base plate 29, respectively; these openin s being adapted to convey fluid pressure roma control valve 53 connected to a source of supply (not shown During normal operation of the wire drawin apparatus the rollers 34 of the reciproca' le member 32 are maintained, by the compression springs 37-37, in a position below and out of contact with the wire 15 being drawn. When it is desirable to stop the drawing of the wire to replace a full spool with an empty one in the take-u mechanism, the operator moves a control andle 54 of the valve 53 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 whereby fluid under pressure is admitted through the openings 51, 52 and depression 50 against the top of the bore 48 to force the member 32 upward. This movement carries the rollers 34 against the moving wire 15 and forces the latter out of its normal path to increase the distance over which the wire travels. Subsequently, the take-up mechanism is stopped whereby the drawing of wire is discontinued, although the capstan rotates continuously, and the control handle 54 of the valveis moved to the position shown in full lines (Fig. 1) to discontinue the fiuid pressure and open the connection to the tubular opening 51 to atmospheric pressure and thereby cause the memer 32 to return to its seating on the plate 39 under the urge of the compression springs From the foregoing, it will be clear that it is unnecessar to stop the power driven capstan 21. en the take-up mechanism is stopped the tension on the wire around the capstan is released and since the return of the member 32 leaves suicient slack in the wire 15 to render the wire loose around the capstan the wire will not be abraded or overheated due to friction with the capstan as might be the case if the wire was taut thereon.

The upward movement of the member 32 and its rollers 33 is limited by a pair of headed bolts 58-58 secured therein and protruding through the wall of the bore 48 to engage diametrically opposite slots 59-59 of a certam length in the piston 49 (Fig. 3). T he bolts are held within the member 32 by pms 60--60 and upon the upward movement of the member the bolts 58-58 are carried therewith and en age the tops of the slots 59 to prevent furt er elevating of the member 32. I

The slack thuis produced in the wire with which the machine is threaded is of particular advantage when-resuming the drawing of wire by reducing the load at starting. With the member 32 returned to its lowermost position, the take-up mechanism is restarted and the wire beginnmg at the finishing die is successivel pulled tight on each step of the capstan w ence it will be obvious that the load is taken on gradually; thereby reducing the starting tor ue, permitting the use of a smaller motor, eeing the capstan surface from excessive wear, and saving the time that would be required to stop and again bring the drawing capstan up to speed.

Although the invention as herein illustrated and described is particularly applicable to the drawing of wire, it should be understood that the novel features of the invention are capable of many other applications and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strand working apparatus, a driven stepped capstan and a plurality of sheaves for carrying the strand, a plurality of drawing dies for working the strand and means for introducing slack in the strand positioned intermediate the capstan and the sheaves and including a movable member, a plurality of rollers rotatable therein for engaging the strand, pneumatically operated means for forcing the rollers against the moving strand, and means for withdrawing the rollers from contact with the strand.

2. In a wire drawing apparatus, a driven stepped capstan and a plurality of idler sheaves for carrying the wire along a predetermined path, a plurality of wire drawing dies mounted between the capstan and the sheaves, a reciprocable defiector positioned between the capstan and the sheaves, a spring to maintain the deflector normally in a retracted position and means to force the delll retracting the roller to introduce such slack in the strand that the capstan and sheave may continue to rotate without moving the strand. v

4. In a strand working apparatus, an idler sheave for guiding thestrand, a driven capstan for carryin the strand, strand working means mounte therebetween, means for. bearing against the strand between the sheave .and the capstan, means for -Inoving'thebearing means against the strand to lengthen the path of travel for the strand, and means forretracting the strand bearing means to introduce such slack in the nstrand that the capstan and sheave may continue to rotate without moving the strand.

, 5. In a wire -drawlng apparatus, an idlersheave for 'guiding the strand, a power driven capstan for carrying the strand between the idler sheave-and the capstan, a wire drawing die inter osed between the sheavel and the capstan or engaging the strand, means for bearing against the strand, means for moving thebearing means against the strandto lengthen the path of travel of the strand, and

means for retracting. the strand bearing means to introduce such slack inthe strand v that the capstan may'continue to rotate without moving the strand.

-In` witness whereof, we hereunto` subscribe our names this 29th day of March, A. D. 1928.

HAROLD PETER SAMUEL MGMULLAN. 

